Iran hangs woman for murder of her alleged attempted rapist

Reyhaneh Jabbari was hanged in a Tehran prison at dawn on Saturday, the official IRNA news agency quoted the Tehran prosecutor’s office as saying.

The 26-year-old was sentenced to death for stabbing dead a man seven years ago who she says tried to rape her.

A message posted on the Facebook campaign Save Reyhaneh Jabbari appeared to confirm the report.

It read: “With Sad News Reyhaneh Jabbari was executed early hours of morning.”

‘Deeply flawed’

Jabbari was sentenced to death in 2008 after what Amnesty International called a “deeply flawed investigation and trial”.

She had admitted to stabbing the man, but said she acted in self-defence after he tried to sexually abuse her.

“This is another bloody stain on Iran’s human rights record,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the deputy director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Jabbari’s execution has been deferred a number of times, including last month.

‘Confessions made under threat’

Following the execution, Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood MP, called on Iran to end the use of the death penalty.

Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, said: “The UK strongly opposes the use of the death penalty. I am very concerned and saddened that it has been used in the case of Reyhaneh Jabbari where there have been questions around due process.

“The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, noted that her conviction was allegedly based on confessions made while under threat, and the court failed to take into account all evidence into its judgement.

“Actions like these do not help Iran build confidence or trust with the international community. I urge Iran to put a moratorium on all executions.”